Members of the Submarine Parachute Assistance Group (SPAG) from all three Services have been putting their parachuting skills to the test in Gibraltar this week. The Group’s main task is to deploy a team of people with escape and rescue knowledge to the scene of a submarine in distress – and to do s
On 22 February 2012, the EU NAVFOR combat support warship FGS BERLIN responded to a distress signal from a tanker that was under attack by suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden. On receipt of the radio call the FGS BERLIN immediately dispatched her two Seaking helicopters to the area while she close
NORWAY-based boat handling system and specialised davit supplier Vestdavit has been contracted by shipbuilder Austal to supply its state-of-the-art PLAR-6500 davits to eight new Cape Class Patrol Boats (CCPBs) to be built for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service. Austal will build th
The vice chief of naval operations (VCNO) concluded a three-day engagement visit to Canberra and Darwin, Australia, Feb. 21. Adm. Mark Ferguson met with Chief of the Australian Navy Vice Adm. Ray Griggs and U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey L. Bleich, toured naval facilities, and delivered remarks to students
Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) announced the selection of its 2011 Sea and Shore Sailors of the Year Feb. 21. NAVFAC Commander Rear Adm. Christopher J. Mossey announced Utilitiesman 1st Class (SCW) Patrick Cunningham from Naval Support Unit, State Department was named as the Sea Sailo
EU NAVFOR hosted a press conference on 20 February 2012 to present an update on Operation ATALANTA, piracy off the Horn of Africa and a view towards future developments. The briefing was hosted by Operation Commander Rear Admiral Duncan L. Potts with Deputy Operation Commander Rear Admiral Rainer En
The forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42), with embarked elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), arrived in Port Chabang for a scheduled port visit, Feb. 21, after completing the multinational exercise Cobra Gold 2012 (CG 12). Exercise Cobra Gold is a U.
Hundreds of workers at a British missile factory have been thanked by the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Peter Luff for their efforts in supporting the Armed Forces during the Libya intervention. The Minister visited MBDA UK at Lostock in Bolton last week to see for himself w
For the first time, France, Poland and the United States have taken part in the General Officers Steering Committee (GOSC) of the Extended Air Defence Task Force (EADTF) between 13 and 17 February 2012. These countries wish to eventually become full members of this German-Dutch organisation, which o
Following his posting as Commander of the UK Counter-Piracy Task Group, Captain Gerry Northwood, Royal Navy, has written in The Times newspaper about how concerted efforts are helping reduce attacks on merchant vessels. Captain Northwood writes: “Eleven pirates on board with automatic weapons and ro
12 countries, including the Royal Netherlands Navy as a representative of the Netherlands, are currently combating drugs smuggling in a large area of the Caribbean extending to the Pacific Ocean in Operation Martillo. The emphasis is on South and Central American coastal waters. This operation will
Bluefin Robotics, a subsidiary of Battelle, is joining with The Columbia Group to invest in the next generation large submersible vehicle. Bluefin is a leader in design and manufacture of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) and related technology. Battelle has a long history of meeting the technolog
Two Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) engineers returned from deployment on two different large-deck surface platforms in support of the U.S. Navy’s at sea, live and synthetic exercise Bold Alligator 2012 that ended Feb. 12. Luis Ramirez-Lugo embarked USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7)
President John Evans Atta Mills yesterday commissioned four new vessels for the Ghana Navy, the first in 32 years, and underscored the need for the country to secure its maritime domain for its future socio-economic development. He said the nation’s maritime environment abounded in diverse resources
